An attorney or a person may file a civil lawsuit if they feel they have been violated, according to law, for some reason that was the direct result of someone else's actions or inaction. Some of the most common types of civil lawsuits include sexual discrimination, racial discrimination, personal injury, landlord and tenant disputes, professional malpractice suits, breach of contract lawsuits, insurance company complaints and numerous others. The person who brings the lawsuit is called the plaintiff. The person who is being sued by the plaintiff is the defendant. There may be more than one plaintiff or defendant in any case.